Roadrunners Fall to Barracuda in Overtime Thriller, Maintain Playoff Position
The Tucson Roadrunners suffered a hard-fought 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Tucson Arena, despite a strong performance from goaltender Jaxson Stauber and continued momentum in recent games. The defeat concluded a two-game series on “U of A Night,” but the Roadrunners remain in a playoff position in the Pacific Division.
The Roadrunners (17-12-6-0) battled back from multiple deficits against the Barracuda (21-12-1-2), showcasing resilience despite ultimately falling short. Noel Nordh opened the scoring for Tucson on the power play, but San Jose responded quickly and consistently throughout the contest.
First Period Lead, Second Period Response
Noel Nordh’s first-period goal at 12:21, assisted by Austin Poganski, gave Tucson an early advantage. However, the Barracuda quickly erased that lead just 21 seconds into the second period with a goal from Filip Bystedt. Defenseman Maveric Lamoureux then restored Tucson’s lead at 2:21 with a powerful shot from the point, assisted by Sam Lipkin, making it 2-1.
The Barracuda continued to pressure, scoring twice within a four-minute span to take the lead. However, the Roadrunners refused to yield, with Dmitri Simashev evening the score at 3-3 just over a minute later, sending the game into overtime.
Overtime Heartbreak and Stauber’s Stellar Performance
San Jose ultimately secured the victory with a power-play goal from Egor Afanasyev with just 29 seconds remaining in the extra frame. The decisive penalty was a result of a too-many-men call against Tucson.
Despite the loss, goaltender Jaxson Stauber delivered a standout performance, making a season-high 36 saves on 40 shots. Forward Ty Tullio led Tucson in points with a pair of assists.
Roadrunners Maintain Playoff Standing
The Roadrunners currently hold the seventh and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with 40 points. They have earned a point in nine consecutive games (7-0-2-0) and in 13 of their last 15 contests (9-2-4-0).
Team and Individual Streaks Continue
Several notable streaks continued for the Roadrunners. Tucson has scored in the first period in eight of their last nine games, outscoring opponents 11-4 in that span. They have also found the back of the net in four consecutive second periods. Noel Nordh’s power-play goal ended a four-game drought for the team on the man advantage.
Individually, Ben McCartney skated in his 250th career AHL game on Saturday. Maveric Lamoureux extended his point streak to a season-high three games, and Dmitri Simashev continues to impress, with 15 points in his last 14 games, ranking fourth among AHL blueliners in that span and leading all AHL rookie defensemen in points-per-game.
A physical contest also saw Tucson’s Julian Lutz engage in a fight with San Jose’s Kasper Halttunen.
Looking Ahead
The Roadrunners will conclude their homestand with a two-game series against the San Diego Gulls on Tuesday and Wednesday at Tucson Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 6:30 p.m. AZT. Fans can listen live on FOX Sports 1450 AM and the iHeartRadio app, watch on AHLtv on FloHockey, and purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com.
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